Atlas of Hispanic-American History

Portugal and its overseas possessions in

1580. Philip II continued the wars against
      France and the Ottoman Empire and
      began new wars, including campaigns
      against Protestant rebels in the
      Netherlands and an ill-fated assault on
      England with a great fleet known as the

Spanish Armada (1588), most of which

was destroyed.

Literature flourished during Spain’s

Golden Age, which began during Philip

II’s reign and continued into the middle

of the 17th century. Writers of the period

included novelist Miguel de Cervantes

64 ATLAS OF HISPANIC-AMERICAN HISTORY

New Spain in 1790

Intendency of Mexico

Intendency of Guanajuato

Intendency of Valladolid

Intendency of Guadalajara

Intendency of Zacatecas

Intendency of San Luis Potosí

Intendency of Vera Cruz

Government of Tlaxcala

Intendency of Puebla

Intendency of Oaxaca

Intendency of Mérida

Province of Nuevo Santander

Province of Nuevo León

Province of Coahuila

Intendency of Durango

Intendency of Sonora

Government of Old California

Intendency of Chiapas

Intendency of Guatemala

Intendency of San Salvador

Intendency of Comayagua

Intendency of León

Province of Costa Rica

Intendency of Havana

Intendency of Puerto Príncipe

Intendency of Santiago de Cuba

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Spain’s vast territories in North and Central America and the Caribbean were collectively known as the Viceroyalty of New Spain. At

the heart of New Spain was the Viceregal Audencia of Mexico. An audencia, or tribunal, combined the functions of a court and an

executive office. Other regions of New Spain, including the Louisiana Territory and Florida, were part of a military district known as

the Captaincy-General of Cuba. The present-day nations of Central America formed another military district, known as the Captaincy-

General of Guatemala. Within both the Viceregal Audencia of Mexico and the two military districts were a series of smaller jurisdic-

tions. Known as gobiernos, these smaller districts were reorganized in the 1780s and were usually called intendencias or provinces.

Intendencias and Provinces